Chestnut Heath
Common NameChestnut Heath
Scientific NameCoenonympha glycerion
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilySatyrinae
Wingspan (mm)35
Primary Colorsorange, brown, black, white
HabitatMeadows, damp grasslands, forest clearings, mountain slopes
Geographic RangeCentral and Eastern Europe, parts of Asia
Host PlantsPoa, Festuca, Brachypodium
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on grass blades. Larvae feed on various grasses and overwinter, typically pupating close to the ground.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive row of prominent black eyespots with white pupils on the underside of the hindwings. The upperside is generally plain orange-brown.
Description
A small to medium-sized butterfly with an orange-brown upperside and a greyish-brown underside. The hindwing underside prominently displays a row of black eyespots with white pupils, often bordered by an orange band.
